Relaying device and communication system

ABSTRACT

A relaying device includes a wireless apparatus interface, a signal processing unit connected to the wireless apparatus interface, a network interface, and a packet processing unit connected to the network interface. The relaying device is provided with multiple communication paths including the wireless apparatus interface, the signal processing unit, and the packet processing unit, and each communication path has a mixing unit configured to additively synthesize an uplink audio signal and a downlink audio signal of other communication path to the uplink audio signal and input the synthesized signal to the packet processing unit, and configured to additively synthesize an uplink audio signal and a downlink audio signal of other communication path to the downlink audio signal and input the synthesized signal to the signal processing unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a relaying device and a communicationsystem that relay mutual communications of multiple wireless apparatusesover a network.

2. Description of the Related Art

A relaying device and a communication system have been proposed thatrelay audio communications of transceivers and the like over a network,so that multiple transceivers in communication areas where radio wavesdo not reach each other of the transceivers can mutually performcommunications (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2011-135291, for example).

For a relaying device and a communication system in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2011-135291 that are configured toenable communications of transceivers in different communication areas,it was a prerequisite that those transceivers are communicationequipment of a same communication scheme (analog half-duplexcommunications, for example). Moreover, even if transceivers are presentin a same communication area, their direct communications were notpossible if they were transceivers of different communication schemes,such as those of full-duplex communication scheme and of half-duplexcommunication scheme, those of analog communication scheme and ofdigital communication scheme, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a relaying device and acommunication system that enable mutual communications of multiple typesof wireless apparatuses of different communication schemes.

A relaying device according to the present invention comprises: awireless apparatus interface to which a wireless relaying apparatus isconnected and which receives an audio signal via the wireless relayingapparatus from a wireless handset communicating with the wirelessrelaying apparatus; a signal processing unit connected to the wirelessapparatus interface; a network interface connected to a network whichacts as a data communication network and sending or receiving packets toor from other network device connected to the network; and a packetprocessing unit connected to the network interface. The signalprocessing unit is configured to output an audio signal inputted fromthe wireless apparatus interface to the packet processing unit as anuplink audio signal, and output a downlink audio signal inputted fromthe packet processing unit to the wireless apparatus interface. Thepacket processing unit is configured to read an audio signal frompackets inputted from the network interface and output the audio signalto the signal processing unit as a downlink audio signal, and create apacket from the audio signal inputted from the signal processing unitand output it to the network interface. The relaying device is providedwith multiple communication paths including the wireless apparatusinterface, the signal processing unit, and the packet processing unit,and each communication path has a mixing unit configured to additivelysynthesize an uplink audio signal and a downlink audio signal of othercommunication path to the own uplink audio signal and input thesynthesized signal to the packet processing unit, and configured toadditively synthesize an uplink audio signal and a downlink audio signalof other communication path to the own downlink audio signal and inputthe synthesized signal to the signal processing unit.

In the above-described invention, the signal processing unit may beconfigured to output an uplink audio detection signal to the packetprocessing unit in parallel with outputting of the uplink audio signal,the packet processing unit may be configured to output a downlink audiodetection signal to the signal processing unit in parallel withoutputting of the downlink audio signal, and the mixing unit may beconfigured to input to the packet processing unit a signal generated byORing an uplink audio detection signal and a downlink audio detectionsignal of other communication path to the uplink audio detection signaland input a signal generated by ORing an uplink audio detection signaland a downlink audio detection signal of other communication path to thedownlink audio detection signal.

In the above-described invention, wireless relaying apparatuses ofmultiple types of communication schemes which differ from each other maybe connected to wireless apparatus interfaces of multiple communicationpaths.

In the above-described invention, the relaying device may furtherinclude a selection unit that uses the mixing unit and selects whetheror not to cause the mixing unit to mutually perform additive synthesisof an audio signal or ORing of an audio detection signal or that selectsa communication path of multiple communication paths that uses themixing unit to mutually perform additive synthesis of the audio signalor ORing of the audio detection signal.

In addition, the selection unit may be configured to make the selectionon the basis of a signal from a wireless handset inputted via thewireless apparatus interface.

A communication system of the present invention includes the relayingdevice described above; multiple wireless relaying apparatuses connectedto multiple communication paths; and multiple wireless handsets. Eachwireless handset communicates with any of the multiple wireless relayingapparatuses. An audio signal sent by one wireless handset is conveyedvia the relaying device to the other wireless handsets.

Furthermore, multiple communication systems described above areprovided, a relaying device in each of the communication systems isconnected to a network, and each relaying device sends or receivespackets via a network interface.

According to the present invention, even wireless apparatuses (wirelesshandsets) of different communication schemes can communicate with eachother via a wireless apparatus interface and a mixing unit, and at thesame time, communications over a network are also enabled via a networkinterface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the relaying device in the communicationsystem.

FIG. 3A shows a configuration of a signal processing unit, a mixingunit, and a packet processing unit when a mixing function of therelaying device is turned off.

FIG. 3B shows a configuration of a signal processing unit, a mixingunit, and a packet processing unit when a mixing function of therelaying device is turned off.

FIG. 4A shows a configuration of the signal processing unit, the mixingunit, and the packet processing unit when the mixing function of therelaying device is turned on.

FIG. 4B shows a configuration of the signal processing unit, the mixingunit, and the packet processing unit when the mixing function of therelaying device is turned on.

FIG. 5 shows a display example of a screen for setting a mixing group.

FIG. 6A is an illustration showing a form of cooperation of multiplecommunications system.

FIG. 6B is an illustration showing a form of cooperation of multiplecommunications system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a relaying device and acommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is aconfiguration diagram of a communication system 10 according to theembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of arelaying device 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention.In addition, FIGS. 3A and 3B show configurations of a signal processingunit 21, a mixing unit 22, and a packet processing unit 23 of therelaying device 2.

The relaying device 2 of the communication system 10 relays wirelesscommunications of transceivers 4 (41, 42, 43) over a network 1. Forexample, the relaying device 2 relays communications between thetransceiver 41 in the figure and a transceiver 4-2 under the control ofa relaying device 2-2 of other communication system 10-2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the relaying device 2 has one network interface 24and multiple wireless apparatus interfaces 20 (201, 202, 203, 204). Thewireless apparatus interfaces 201, 202 are analog wireless apparatusinterfaces, to each of which a half-duplex (simplex) relayingtransceiver 31 or a duplex (full-duplex) relaying transceiver 32 isconnected. The half-duplex relaying transceiver 31 communicates with auser transceiver 41, which is also half-duplex and used by a user. Thefull-duplex relaying transceiver 32 communicates with a user transceiver42 which is also full-duplex and used by a user.

A half-duplex transceiver is a transceiver configured to be switched bya user to either a transmission mode or reception mode, as appropriate.The half-duplex transceiver comprises a push-to-talk (Push to Talk: PTT)switch or a VOX circuit, and is switched to the transmission mode whenthe PTT switch is turned on, when the VOX circuit detects user's voice,or when a PTT signal is externally inputted. In addition, a full-duplextransceiver is a transceiver configured to be able to performtransmission and reception in parallel by causing a transmission circuitand a reception circuit to operate on different channels (frequencies)in parallel. Thus, half-duplex transceivers and full-duplex transceiverscannot wirelessly communicate with each other since their communicationschemes are different.

The wireless apparatus interface 203 is a digital wireless apparatusinterface, to which a digital relaying transceiver 33 is connected. Thedigital relaying transceiver 33 communicates with the digital usertransceiver 43 used by the user. The wireless apparatus interface 204 isan audio input/output terminal, to which a calling device 5 that is nota wireless apparatus is connected. The calling device 5 comprises amicrophone 51 and a speaker 52 and is operated directly by an operator.

The digital transceiver 43 is a transceiver configured to digitalize anaudio signal and send or receive it with a modulation scheme such as PSK(Phase-shift-keying) and the like. Obviously, the digital transceiver 43and an analog transceiver cannot wirelessly communicate with each other.

An audio signal inputted from the transceiver 4 or the calling device 5via the wireless apparatus interface 20 is converted into an RTP packetby the signal processing unit 21, the mixing unit 22, and the packetprocessing unit 23, to be described below, and sent to the network 1from the network interface 24. The network interface 24 also receives anRTP packet from a communication partner on the network 1. The RTP packetreceived by network interface 24 is converted into an audio signal bythe packet processing unit 23, the mixing unit 22, and the signalprocessing unit 21 described above, and inputted to each wirelessapparatus interface 20.

To the network 1 is connected one or more communication systems 10-2, inaddition to the communication system 10. The relaying devices 2, 2-2 ofeach communication system 10, 10-2 communicate with each other andexchange RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) packets carrying audio callsignaling of the transceivers 4, 4-2. The network 1 may employ a LANconfigured by Ethernet™ or the Internet.

While four paths of the analog wireless apparatus interfaces 201, 202,the digital wireless apparatus interface 203, and the audio input/outputterminal 204 are provided as the wireless apparatus interface 20 in theembodiment, any number of wireless apparatus interfaces may be provided.In addition, any number of the analog wireless apparatus interface, thedigital wireless apparatus interface, and the audio input/outputterminal may be combined. For example, two paths of the analog wirelessapparatus interfaces, four paths of the digital wireless apparatusinterfaces, or two paths of the audio input/output terminals may beprovided.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B show configurations of the signal processingunit 21, the mixing unit 22, and the packet processing unit 23 of therelaying device 2. FIGS. 3A and 3B show connection form when the mixingfunction is off, and FIGS. 4A and 4B show one example of the connectionform when the mixing function is on.

The signal processing unit 21 consists of signaling processing units211, 212, 213, 214 associated with the four wireless apparatusinterfaces 201, 202, 203, 204. The mixing unit 22 consists of mixingunits 221, 222, 223, 224 associated with the four wireless apparatusinterfaces 201, 202, 203, 204. The packet processing unit 23 alsoconsists of packet processing units 231, 232, 233, 234 associated withthe four wireless apparatus interfaces 201, 202, 203, 204.

As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A, the signal processing unit 21 (211,212, 213, 214) processes an audio signal of audio communications, and asshown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B, processes a control signal for switchingtransmission and reception of a wireless apparatus.

The analog wireless apparatus interface 201, the analog signalprocessing unit 211, the mixing unit 221, and the packet processing unit231 constitute a first communication path, while the analog wirelessapparatus interface 202, the analog signal processing unit 212, themixing unit 222, and the packet processing unit 232 constitute a secondcommunication path. The digital wireless apparatus interface 203, thedigital signal processing unit 213, the mixing unit 233, and the packetprocessing unit 233 constitute a third communication path. Furthermore,the audio input/output terminal 204, the analog signal processing unit214, the mixing unit 224, and the packet processing unit 234 constitutea fourth communication path.

When the mixing function is turned off, each communication path operatesindependently, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In contrast, when the mixingfunction is turned on, an audio signal and a control signal (audiodetection signal) of each communication path are additively synthesizedmutually, and outputted from each communication path, as shown in FIGS.4A and 4B. Note that although FIGS. 4A and 4B only show the connectionform of the mixing unit 221 of the first communication path, the mixingunits 222, 223, 224 also mix and output an audio signal and a controlsignal (audio detection signal) of each path in a similar connectionform.

To the analog signal processing 211 is connected the half-duplex analogrelaying transceiver 31 via the analog wireless apparatus interface 201.The analog signal processing unit 211 comprises an A/D converter 2111that converts an analog audio signal inputted from the analog relayingtransceiver 31 into a digital signal for an RTP packet, and a D/Aconverter 2112 that converts an audio signal to be outputted to theanalog relaying transceiver 31 into an analog signal. The analog signalprocessing unit 211 also comprises an SQL detection unit 2113 thatgenerates a control signal (audio detection signal) signifying that anaudio signal is present, when a squelch signal (SQL) is inputted fromthe analog relaying transceiver 31, and a PTT processing unit 2114 thatoutputs a PTT signal to the analog relaying transceiver 31 when an audiodetection signal is inputted from other processing unit.

To the analog signal processing unit 212 is connected the full-duplexanalog transceiver 32 via the analog wireless apparatus interface 202.The analog signal processing unit 212 comprises an A/D converter 2121that converts an analog audio signal inputted from the analog relayingtransceiver 32 into a digital signal for an RTP packet, and a D/Aconverter 2122 that converts an audio signal to be outputted to theanalog relaying transceiver 32 into an analog signal. The analog signalprocessing unit 212 also includes a VOX detection unit 2123 whichdetects that an audio signal is inputted from the full-duplex analogrelaying transceiver 32 which does not generate a squelch signal, andwhich generates an audio detection signal when detecting that the audiosignal is inputted, and a PTT processing unit 2124 which always turns ona PTT signal and always allows output of an audio signal to the D/Aconverter 2022.

To the digital signal processing unit 213 is connected the (half-duplex)digital relaying transceiver 33 via the digital wireless apparatusinterface 203. The digital signal processing 213 includes a demodulationunit 2131 that converts a digital audio signal inputted from the digitalrelaying transceiver 33 into a digital signal for an RTP packet, and amodulation unit 2132 that converts a digital signal for an RTP packetinputted from other processing unit into a digital audio signal in acompression format to be outputted to the digital relaying transceiver33. The digital signal processing unit 213 also includes a packetdetection unit 2133 that generates an audio detection signal when apacket carrying an audio signal is inputted from the digital relayingtransceiver 33, and a PTT processing unit 2134 that generates a PTTsignal to the digital relaying transceiver 33 when an audio detectionsignal is inputted from other processing unit.

To the analog signal processing unit 214 is connected the calling device5 via the audio input/output terminal 204. The analog signal processingunit 214 includes an A/D converter 2141 that converts an analog audiosignal inputted from the calling device 5 into a digital signal for anRTP packet, and a D/A converter 2142 that converts an audio signal to beoutputted to the calling device into an analog signal. The analog signalprocessing unit 214 also includes a VOX detection unit 2143 whichdetects that an audio signal is inputted from the microphone 51 andgenerates an audio detection signal, and a relay processing unit 2144which turns off the microphone 51 and turns on the speaker 52 when anaudio detection signal is inputted from other processing unit.

When an audio detection signal is inputted, the packet processing unit23 (231, 232, 233, 234) generates an RTP packet on the basis of theaudio signal then inputted, and sends it. When an RTP packet is receivedfrom the network 1, the packet processing unit 23 generates an audiodetection signal and outputs an audio signal contained in that RTPpacket. The packet processing units 231, 232, 233, 234 respectively sendor receive an RTP packet via the network interface 24 with acommunication partner on the network 1 which is either predetermined orselected and set by the user.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the connection form of the mixing unit 21 when themixing function is turned on. Note that although FIGS. 4A and 4B onlyshow the connection form of the mixing unit 221 of the firstcommunication path, the mixing units 222, 223, 224 also mix and outputan audio signal and an audio detection signal of each path in a similarconnection form.

The mixing unit 221 has adders 2211, 2212 that additively synthesizeaudio signals and adders 2213, 2214 that OR audio detection signals.

The adder 2211 additively synthesizes audio signals inputted from theA/D converter 2111, the A/D converter 2121, the demodulation unit 2131,the A/D converter 2141, and RTP reading units 2322, 2332, 2342. Theadder 2211 inputs the audio signal to an RTP packet generation unit 2311of the packet processing unit 231 as an uplink audio signal.Specifically, the adder 2211 additively synthesizes all audio signals tobe outputted from any unit other than the packet processing unit 231(RTP packet reading unit 2312), which is a destination of audio signalsto be inputted, to generate an uplink audio signal. It is to preventecho or acoustic feedback that an audio signal outputted from thedestination packet processing unit 231 is not added.

The adder 2212 additively synthesizes audio signals inputted from theA/D converter 2121, the demodulation unit 2131, the A/D converter 2141,and the RTP packet reading units 2312, 2322, 2332, 2342. The adder 2212inputs the audio signal to the D/A converter 2112 of the signalprocessing unit 211 as a downlink audio signal. Specifically, the adder2212 additively synthesizes all audio signals to be outputted from anyunit other than the signal processing unit 211 (A/D converter 2111),which is a destination of audio signals to be inputted, to generate anuplink audio signal. It is to prevent echo or acoustic feedback that anaudio signal outputted from the destination signal processing unit 211is not added.

The adder 2213 for ORing audio detection signals ORs audio detectionsignals inputted from the SQL detection unit 2113, the VOX detectionunit 2123, the packet detection unit 2133, the VOX detection unit 2143,and RTP packet reception detection units 2324, 2334, 2344. Then, theadder 2213 inputs the ORed audio detection signal to an RTP packettransmission instruction unit 2313 of the packet processing unit 231.With this, the above-described uplink audio signal generated by theadder 2211 is outputted from the RTP packet generation unit 2311 to thenetwork interface 24.

The adder 2214 ORs audio detection signals to be inputted from the VOXdetection unit 2123, the packet detection unit 2133, the VOX detectionunit 2143, and the RTP packet reception detection units 2314, 2324,2334, 2344. Then, the adder 2214 inputs the ORed audio detection signalto the PTT processing unit 2114 of the signal processing unit 211. Withthis, the above-described downlink audio signal generated by the adder2212 is inputted from the RTP packet generation unit 2311 via thewireless apparatus interface 201 to the relaying transceiver 31, andsent to the user transceiver 41.

With the processing of the mixing unit 22 as described above, uplink anddownlink audio signals of all paths to be mixed are additivelysynthesized and sent to the transceiver 4 of each path. Thus, mutualcommunications of multiple units beyond differences in models isenabled.

Alternatively, in the relaying device 2, all communication paths maybecome a target of mixing when the mixing function is turned on or theuser may be allowed to select which communication path is to be mixed.

Here, in FIG. 2, the control unit 25 is connected to the signalprocessing unit 21 and the mixing unit 22. To the control unit 25 areconnected a storage unit 26, a display unit 27, and an operating unit28. In the storage unit 26 is stored information on selection of asignal processing path (mixing group) of multiple signal processingpaths that mutually performs mixing when the mixing function is turnedon. Based on an indication on the display unit 27, the user can operatethe operating unit 28 to set a mixing group.

In a mixing group setting mode, the display unit 27 displays a settingscreen as shown in FIG. 5. By operating the operating unit 28 to turn onor off a radio button, the user can select a mixing group to which eachcommunication path belongs. Then, the setting is stored in the storageunit 26. In an operation mode, the user turns on the mixing function,selects a mixing group, and operates the mixing function.

Alternatively, a tone signal such as a DTMF signal or a 5-tone signalmay be inputted from the transceiver 4 (41, 42, 43), and the tone signalmay thereby enable turning on or off of the mixing function, selectionof a mixing group, or setting of a mixing group.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6A, mutually connecting multiplecommunication systems 10 having the configuration described aboveenables so-called multiple connections or daisy-chain connection of thecommunication systems 10, thereby enabling wide-ranging mutualcommunications beyond communication areas.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, a multi-function mobile phone (smartphone) 7, which is allowed for transmission or reception of RTP packetsby arranging a wireless access point 6 on the network 1, is enabled toaccess to the network 1. Then, a communication partner of any of thecommunication paths of the relaying device 2 is set to themulti-function mobile phone 7, which is thereby added to a group ofmutual communications and can be used as a so-called headset.

In the above embodiment, the signal processing unit 21 and the packetprocessing unit 24 are configured to output an audio detection signal inparallel with outputting of an audio signal. However, a unit that inputsan audio signal may check a signal level to be inputted to perform VOXprocessing (generating a PTT signal), rather than a unit that outputs anaudio signal outputting an audio detection signal.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 network-   2 relaying device-   3 (31, 32, 33) relaying transceiver-   4 (41, 42, 43) user transceiver (wireless handset)-   6 wireless access point-   7 multi-function mobile phone (smart phone)-   20 wireless apparatus interface-   21 signal processing unit-   22 mixing unit-   23 packet processing unit-   24 network interface-   25 control unit-   26 storage unit-   27 display unit-   28 operating unit

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A relaying device comprising: a plurality ofinterfaces that respectively connects to audio communication devicesthat are different types, each of the interfaces inputting an uplinksignal from the connected audio communication device and outputting adownlink signal; and a plurality of mixers that are respectivelyprovided to the interfaces, each of the mixers assigned to one interfaceand inputting the uplink signal from another interface, wherein each ofthe mixers mixes the input uplink signal to make the downlink signal andoutputs the downlink signal to the assigned interface.
 9. The relayingdevice according to claim 8, wherein the audio communication devicesthat are different types include two or more of a half-duplex analogtransceiver, a full-duplex analog transceiver, a digital transceiver,and a calling device.
 10. The relaying device according to claim 8,further comprising; a selecter that selects a part of the interfaces asa group; wherein the mixer assigned the interface belonging the groupinputs the uplink signal from the another interface belonging the group.11. The relaying device according to claim 10, wherein the selecterstores one or more groups selectable by a user.